Grand Council of Fascism
Gran Consiglio del Fascismo
AbbreviationGCF
FormationFirst Meeting
15 December 1922 (1922-12-15)
State Body
9 December 1928 (1928-12-09)
Dissolved25 July 1943 (1943-07-25)
Legal statusConstitutional body
HeadquartersPalazzo Venezia, Rome
Location
Official language
Italian
Victor Emmanuel III
Benito Mussolini
Secretary of the Council
Party Secretary
Main organ
National Fascist Party

The Grand Council of Fascism (Italian: Gran Consiglio del Fascismo, also translated "Fascist Grand Council") was the main body of Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy, that held and applied great power to control the institutions of government. It was created as a body of the National Fascist Party in 1922, and became a state body on 9 December 1928. The council usually met at the Palazzo Venezia, Rome, which was also the seat of the head of the Italian government.[1] The Council became extinct following a series of events in 1943, in which Benito Mussolini was voted out as the Prime Minister of Italy.

Powers of the Council

The session of the Grand Council of 9 May 1936, where the Empire was proclaimed.

Essentially, the council held these powers:

  • The power to elect the Fascist Party deputies, the nomination for the Party Secretary and other party leaders, the approval of the party statutes and the power regarding the party's policy.
  • The power to elect the Crown's line of succession including the choice of the heir to the throne, the right of the Crown, the power to choose possible successors to the Prime Minister, the power to choose the function and membership of the Grand Council, the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies (later the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations), the power to decide the rights and powers of the Prime Minister, international Treaties, and foreign affairs.

The Grand Council meetings were convened by the Prime Minister himself, and all decrees and laws could only be legalized after receiving his approval. In contrast to the Führerprinzip government model in Nazi Germany, the Grand Council retained the power to recommend that the King of Italy remove the Prime Minister from office. As all the former governing institutions had been subordinated to the Fascist Party, the Council was the only check on Mussolini's power.

Overthrow of Mussolini

The Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943. Grand Council member Dino Grandi proposed a vote of no confidence in Mussolini as leader of the Council and the party. A vote was held on the night of 24–25 July 1943 and passed with 19 votes for, 8 against and one abstention. Among the 19 votes of no confidence were those of Mussolini's son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano, who had been former minister of foreign affairs, and the influential marshal Emilio De Bono.

The following day King Victor Emmanuel met Mussolini and informed him that General Pietro Badoglio would lead Italy, as Prime Minister. Mussolini was arrested immediately after the meeting.[2]

In September 1943 Mussolini was freed from imprisonment by German commandos and helped to regain power in northern Italy. He had those who voted against him tried for treason at the Verona trial. All of them were found guilty, with all but one of them being sentenced to death. However, only five men, including Ciano, De Bono, and Tullio Cianetti, the defendant whose life was spared, were present for the trial. With the exception of Cianetti, those present were all executed by firing squad on the morning of 11 January 1944.[3][4]

Members of the Council

The composition of the Council was revised and defined by a law of 14 December 1929 and became a state body from 9 December 1928. Its members, selected among the party's gerarchi, are below. Their vote on the 25 July 1943 motion to depose Mussolini is also given next to their name.

President of the Council

Head of Government and Duce of Fascism
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Benito Mussolini
(1883–1945)		 31 October 1922 25 July 1943 20 years, 267 days Deposed

Quadrumvirs

The Quadrumvirs
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Italo Balbo
(1896–1940)		 27 October 1922 28 June 1940 17 years, 245 days Died in Office
Michele Bianchi
(1883–1930)		 3 February 1930 7 years, 99 days Died in Office
Emilio De Bono
(1866–1944)		 25 July 1943 20 years, 271 days Yes
Cesare Maria De Vecchi
(1884–1959)		 25 July 1943 20 years, 271 days Yes

Parliament

President of the Senate
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Tommaso Tittoni
(1855–1931)		 1 December 1919 21 January 1929 9 years, 51 days —
Luigi Federzoni
(1878–1967)		 29 April 1929 2 March 1939 9 years, 307 days —
Giacomo Suardo
(1883–1947)		 15 March 1939 25 July 1943 4 years, 132 days Abstention
President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations[lower-alpha 1]
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Alfredo Rocco
(1875–1935)		 24 May 1924 5 January 1925 226 days —
Antonio Casertano
(1863–1938)		 13 January 1925 25 January 1929 4 years, 12 days —
Giovanni Giuriati
(1876–1970)		 20 April 1929 19 January 1934 4 years, 274 days —
Costanzo Ciano
(1876–1939)		 28 April 1934 26 June 1939 5 years, 59 days Died in office
Dino Grandi
(1895–1988)		 30 November 1939 25 July 1943 3 years, 237 days Yes

Positions in the Cabinet

Minister of Agriculture and Forests
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Giacomo Acerbo
(1888–1969)		 12 September 1929 24 January 1935 5 years, 134 days —
Edmondo Rossoni
(1884–1965)		 24 January 1935 31 October 1939 4 years, 280 days —
Giuseppe Tassinari
(1891–1944)		 31 October 1939 26 December 1941 2 years, 56 days —
Carlo Pareschi
(1898–1944)		 26 December 1941 25 July 1943 1 year, 211 days Yes
Minister of Corporations
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Duce 2 July 1926 12 September 1929 3 years, 72 days —
Undersecretary
Giacomo Suardo
(1883–1947)		 2 July 1926 6 November 1926 127 days —
Undersecretary
Giuseppe Bottai
(1895–1959)		 6 November 1926 12 September 1929 2 years, 310 days —
Giuseppe Bottai
(1895–1959)		 12 September 1929 20 July 1932 2 years, 312 days —
Duce 20 July 1932 11 June 1936 3 years, 327 days —
Undersecretary
Alberto Asquini
(1889–1972)		 20 July 1932 24 January 1935 2 years, 188 days —
Undersecretary
Bruno Biagi
(1889–1947)		 20 July 1932 24 January 1935 2 years, 188 days —
Undersecretary
Ferruccio Lantini
(1886–1959)		 24 January 1935 11 June 1936 1 year, 139 days —
Ferruccio Lantini
(1886–1959)		 11 June 1936 31 October 1939 3 years, 142 days —
Renato Ricci
(1896–1956)		 31 October 1939 6 February 1943 3 years, 98 days —
Carlo Tiengo
(1882–1945)		 6 February 1943 19 April 1943 72 days —
Tullio Cianetti
(1899–1976)		 19 April 1943 25 July 1943 97 days Yes
Minister of Finance
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Alberto de' Stefani
(1879–1969)		 31 October 1922 10 July 1925 2 years, 252 days —
Giuseppe Volpi
(1877–1947)		 10 July 1925 9 July 1928 2 years, 365 days —
Antonio Mosconi
(1866–1955)		 9 July 1928 20 July 1932 4 years, 11 days —
Guido Jung
(1876–1949)		 20 July 1932 17 January 1935 2 years, 181 days
Paolo Thaon di Revel
(1888–1973)		 17 January 1935 6 February 1943 8 years, 20 days —
Giacomo Acerbo
(1888–1969)		 6 February 1943 25 July 1943 169 days Yes
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Duce 31 October 1922 12 September 1929 6 years, 316 days —
Undersecretary
Ernesto Vassallo
(1875–1940)		 31 October 1922 27 April 1923 178 days —
Undersecretary
Dino Grandi
(1895–1988)		 12 September 1929 20 July 1932 4 years, 121 days —
Dino Grandi
(1895–1988)		 12 September 1929 20 July 1932 2 years, 312 days —
Duce 20 July 1932 9 June 1936 3 years, 325 days —
Undersecretary
Fulvio Suvich
(1887–1980)		 20 July 1932 9 June 1936 3 years, 325 days —
Galeazzo Ciano
(1903–1944)		 9 June 1936 6 February 1943 6 years, 242 days —
Duce 6 February 1943 25 July 1943 169 days —
Undersecretary
Giuseppe Bastianini
(1889–1961)		 6 February 1943 25 July 1943 169 days Yes
Minister of the Interior
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Duce 31 October 1922 17 June 1924 1 year, 230 days —
Undersecretary
Aldo Finzi
(1891–1944)		 31 October 1922 17 June 1924 1 year, 230 days —
Luigi Federzoni
(1878–1967)		 17 June 1924 6 November 1926 2 years, 142 days
Duce 6 November 1926 25 July 1943 16 years, 261 days —
Undersecretary
Giacomo Suardo
(1883–1947)		 6 November 1926 13 March 1928 1 year, 128 days —
Undersecretary
Michele Bianchi
(1882–1930)		 13 March 1928 12 September 1929 1 year, 183 days —
Undersecretary
Leandro Arpinati
(1892–1945)		 12 September 1929 8 May 1933 3 years, 238 days —
Undersecretary
Guido Buffarini Guidi
(1895–1945)		 8 May 1933 6 February 1943 9 years, 274 days —
Undersecretary
Umberto Albini
(1895–1973)		 6 February 1943 25 July 1943 169 days Yes
Minister of Grace and Justice[lower-alpha 2]
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Aldo Oviglio
(1873–1942)		 31 October 1922 5 January 1925 2 years, 66 days
Alfredo Rocco
(1875–1935)		 5 January 1925 20 July 1932 7 years, 197 days —
Pietro De Francisci
(1883–1971)		 20 July 1932 24 January 1935 2 years, 188 days —
Arrigo Solmi
(1873–1944)		 24 January 1935 12 July 1939 4 years, 169 days —
Dino Grandi
(1895–1988)		 12 July 1939 5 February 1943 3 years, 208 days —
Alfredo De Marsico
(1888–1985)		 5 February 1943 25 July 1943 170 days Yes
Minister of Popular Culture[lower-alpha 3]
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Galeazzo Ciano
(1903–1944)		 23 June 1935 11 June 1936 354 days —
Dino Alfieri
(1886–1966)		 11 June 1936 31 October 1939 3 years, 142 days —
Alessandro Pavolini
(1903–1945)		 31 October 1939 6 February 1943 3 years, 98 days —
Gaetano Polverelli
(1886–1960)		 6 February 1943 25 July 1943 169 days No
Minister of National Education
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Balbino Giuliano
(1879–1958)		 12 September 1929 20 July 1932 2 years, 312 days —
Francesco Ercole
(1884–1945)		 20 July 1932 24 January 1935 2 years, 188 days —
Cesare Maria De Vecchi
(1884–1959)		 24 January 1935 15 November 1936 1 year, 296 days —
Giuseppe Bottai
(1895–1959)		 15 November 1936 5 February 1943 6 years, 82 days —
Carlo Alberto Biggini
(1902–1945)		 5 February 1943 25 July 1943 170 days No

Royal Academy of Italy

President of the Royal Academy
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Tommaso Tittoni
(1855–1931)		 14 December 1929 16 September 1930 276 days —
Guglielmo Marconi
(1874–1937)		 19 September 1930 20 July 1937 6 years, 304 days Died in Office
Gabriele D'Annunzio
(1863–1938)		 12 November 1937 1 March 1938 109 days Died in Office
Luigi Federzoni
(1878–1967)		 21 April 1938 25 July 1943 5 years, 95 days Yes

Special Court for the Defence of the State

President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Guido Cristini
(1895–1979)		 27 July 1928 28 November 1932 4 years, 124 days —
Antonino Tringali Casanuova
(1888–1943)		 28 November 1932 25 July 1943 10 years, 239 days No

Secretary of the Party

Secretary of the Party
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Michele Bianchi
(1883–1930)		 10 November 1921 13 October 1923 1 year, 337 days —
Francesco Giunta
(1887–1971)		 13 October 1923 23 April 1924 193 days —
Quadrumvirate[lower-alpha 4] 23 April 1924 15 February 1925 298 days —
Roberto Farinacci
(1892–1945)		 15 February 1925 30 March 1926 1 year, 43 days No
Augusto Turati
(1888–1955)		 30 March 1926 7 October 1930 4 years, 191 days —
Giovanni Giuriati
(1876–1970)		 7 October 1930 12 December 1931 1 year, 66 days —
Achille Starace
(1889–1945)		 12 December 1931 31 October 1939 7 years, 323 days —
Ettore Muti
(1902–1943)		 31 October 1939 30 October 1940 365 days —
Adelchi Serena
(1895–1970)		 30 October 1940 26 December 1941 1 year, 57 days —
Aldo Vidussoni
(1914–1982)		 26 December 1941 19 April 1943 1 year, 114 days —
Carlo Scorza
(1897–1988)		 19 April 1943 27 July 1943 99 days No
  • The Presidents of the Corporations: Industrialists, Farmers, Industrial Workers, Agriculture Workers.

Chief of Staff of the MVSN

Chief of Staff of the MVSN
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Francesco Sacco
(1877–1958)		 1 February 1923 1 December 1924 1 year, 304 days —
Enrico Bazan
(1864–1947)		 1 December 1924 23 December 1928 4 years, 22 days —
Attilio Teruzzi
(1882–1950)		 2 January 1929 3 October 1935 6 years, 274 days —
Luigi Russo
(1882–1964)		 3 October 1935 3 November 1939 4 years, 31 days —
Achille Starace
(1889–1945)		 3 November 1939 16 May 1941 1 year, 194 days —
Enzo Galbiati
(1897–1982)		 25 May 1941 26 July 1943 2 years, 62 days No

Officeholders who held appointments of a three-year duration

President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Giovanni Giuriati
(1876–1970)		 20 April 1929 19 January 1934 4 years, 274 days —
Minister of Agriculture and Forests
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Edmondo Rossoni
(1884–1965)		 24 January 1935 31 October 1939 4 years, 280 days Yes
Minister of Corporations
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Ferruccio Lantini
(1886–1959)		 11 June 1936 31 October 1939 3 years, 142 days —
Renato Ricci
(1896–1956)		 31 October 1939 6 February 1943 3 years, 98 days —
Minister of Finance
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Paolo Thaon di Revel
(1888–1973)		 17 January 1935 6 February 1943 8 years, 20 days —
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Undersecretary
Fulvio Suvich
(1887–1980)		 20 July 1932 9 June 1936 3 years, 325 days —
Galeazzo Ciano
(1903–1944)		 9 June 1936 6 February 1943 6 years, 242 days Yes
Minister of the Interior
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Undersecretary
Leandro Arpinati
(1892–1945)		 12 September 1929 8 May 1933 3 years, 238 days —
Undersecretary
Guido Buffarini Guidi
(1895–1945)		 8 May 1933 6 February 1943 9 years, 274 days No
Minister of Grace and Justice
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Arrigo Solmi
(1873–1944)		 24 January 1935 12 July 1939 4 years, 169 days —
Minister of Popular Culture
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Dino Alfieri
(1886–1966)		 11 June 1936 31 October 1939 3 years, 142 days Yes
Alessandro Pavolini
(1903–1945)		 31 October 1939 6 February 1943 3 years, 98 days —
Minister of National Education
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Giuseppe Bottai
(1895–1959)		 15 November 1936 5 February 1943 6 years, 82 days Yes
President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Guido Cristini
(1895–1979)		 27 July 1928 28 November 1932 4 years, 124 days —
Secretary of the Party
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Augusto Turati
(1888–1955)		 30 March 1926 7 October 1930 4 years, 191 days —
Achille Starace
(1889–1945)		 12 December 1931 31 October 1939 7 years, 323 days —
Chief of Staff of the MVSN
Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Term of office 25 July 1943 Motion
Took office Left office Time in office
Enrico Bazan
(1864–1947)		 1 December 1924 23 December 1928 4 years, 22 days —
Attilio Teruzzi
(1882–1950)		 2 January 1929 3 October 1935 6 years, 274 days —
Luigi Russo
(1882–1964)		 3 October 1935 3 November 1939 4 years, 31 days —

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Gran consiglio del fascismo". Enciclopedia on line (in Italian). Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana fondata da Giovanni Treccani S.p.A. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Shirer, William L. (1959). The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (2011 ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 997. ISBN 9781451642599. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Bosworth, Richard J. B. (2010). Mussolini (New ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 9780340981733. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  4. ↑ De Grand, Alexander J. (2000). Italian Fascism: Its Origins & Development (Third ed.). Lincoln, NV: University of Nebraska Press. p. 136. ISBN 0803266227. Retrieved 23 August 2017.

References

  1. ↑ President of the Chamber of Deputies until 1939.
  2. ↑ Minister of Justice and Worship Affairs before 1932.
  3. ↑ Minister of Press and Propaganda before 1937.
  4. ↑ Consisted of Roberto Forges Davanzati, Cesare Rossi, Giovanni Marinelli and Alessandro Melchiori.

Further reading

  • 2194 Days of War, Cesare Salmaggi & Alfredo Pallavisini (editors), Gallery Press, New York — ISBN 0831788852 (1977)
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